WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights and Grades for Oct. 25

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1187891970393296896

Lacey Evans vs. Local Talent

Lacey Evans hits the ring with her opponent (an enhancement talent named Cameron Connors) already in the ring. Lacey says she respects herself too much to compete vs a nasty. She says she knows her opponent is scared, but promises to end it quick. Bell rings and voila! Lacey does just that with a Woman’s Right.

Winner: Lacey Evans

Grade: C-

Eh, maybe my grade’s too generous, but if you ask me, this segment did exactly what it was supposed to do. It may not be entertaining, but Lacey was supposed to get a quick win, get some heel heat/boos, and look strong in the process. Mission accomplished.

So, in theory, WWE did something right. Good job, WWE. You did good. Proud of you. Keep it up, and these grades will keep creeping up.

Afterwards, via satellite, we get an interview with Nikki Cross. Michael Cole points out that Bayley said on MizTV last week that the women’s division (Nikki included) was lazy. Cross says Bayley is under pressure from having the title, but will take the pressure off when she takes her title. But first tonight, she faces Mandy Rose, who she calls beautiful, “but this isn’t a beauty pageant. This is Friday Night SmackDown!”

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1187893218932711424

Firefly Fun House

In the first official Firefly Fun House in FOX history, Bray Wyatt and Co. are holding a funeral for Ramblin’ Rabbit, who unfortunately was killed in the horrible fire that Seth Rollins started

Open casket. He opens Ramblin’ Rabbit’s coffin (a tiny box) to reveal JESUS CHRIST! RABBIT’S HAIR IS CUT OPEN AND BLOOD IS POURING OUT!

Bray kisses Ramblin’ Rabbit’s deformed corpse and miraculously, the puppet is alive to an overwhelming cheer from the crowd.

Rabbit then gets eaten and killed again by Mercy. Oh, Mercy.

Grade: A

It didn’t mention Crown Jewel at all (apart from a brief mention at the very end), but it’s Firefly Fun House. It’s exactly my kind of weird, dark humor and it’s hilariously wacky. This episode was no different.

Drew Gulak vs. Kalisto (w/ Lucha House Party)

Gulak grabs the mic and tries to finish the powerpoint presentation that he had last week. You know, the one that’s 345 slides long. He tries to show all the ways that Fury could lose to Braun Strowman. He tries to go to Slide 2, but Kalisto blindsides Gulak from behind with a dropkick.

He runs at Gulak, who catches him like a powerhouse and slams him down. The submission specialist wrenches Kalisto’s neck and then sets up his finisher, until Braun Strowman interrupts and marches down the ring. Distracted, Gulak gets hit Salida Del Sol for the win.

Afterwards, Braun hits the ring to Powerslam Gulak for trash talking him. Grabbing a mic, Braun says this is what happens when people disrespect him, but at least Gulak is a real wrestler who deserves to be in the ring, until Tyson Fury; an outsider. Braun promises that at Crown Jewel, Fury will “GET … THESE … HANDS.”

Winner: Kalisto

Grade: C+

I really liked this. Again, it’s a segment that did its job (showcase new talent/draft picks, establish them, push a PPV match, and make Strowman look strong), but this time, it was entertaining. It’s odd to see Gulak back in the comedy powerpoint presenter role after spending the last year or so as the hyper-serious brute on 205 Live, but it’s a character I always loved so I welcome it. It was nice to see Kalisto in a match, even if he didn’t have the time to show case the best of his ability (that might be the only real downside to this angle, would’ve liked a smidge more Kalisto).

And of course, Braun played his role incredibly well.